The Individual Health Coverage (IHC) Program was created to ensure that people without access to employer or government sponsored health care programs could purchase health coverage for themselves and their families from a variety of private carriers.

Individuals, regardless of their age or health status, are guaranteed renewable health coverage under standard individual health benefits plans designed by the Individual Health Coverage Program Board as well as under the "Basic and Essential" plans (B&E Plan) sold by carriers.

Both individual standard health benefits plans and B&E Plans are available as coverage for a Single Person, Two Adults, a Family, or an Adult and Child(ren).

Individual standard health benefits plans may be purchased from a variety of carriers as either indemnity plans (commonly known as "traditional" or "fee-for-service" plans) or as managed care plans (network-based plans offered by a Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) or by another carrier using, for example, a Preferred Provider Organization (PPO)).  The B&E Plans are available as network-based plans from carriers using an Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO).